Extension-table



(No fiodel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. R. H. RIPKING.

EXTENSION TABLE. No. 543,053. Patented July 23, 1895.

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Patented Jul 23, 1895.

R. H. RIPKING. EXTENSION TABLE,

(No Model.)

lilllW- 16 l gaegfr S 1 31 Z32 18y el hirgz ysq responding NITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

RUDOLPH RIPKING, OF AURORA, INDIANA.

EXTENSION-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 543,053, dated July 23,1 895.

Application filed May 31, 1895. Serial No. 551,208. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH H. RIPKING, a citizen of the United States,residing at Aurora, in the county of Dearborn and State of Indiana, haveinvented a new and useful Extension-Table, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to extension-tables of the class in which theremovable leaves are stored within the frame of the table, whereby allof the parts of the table are kept together whether in use or not, andthe objects in view are to provide simple and efficient means forsupporting the outer extremities of jointed or folding removable leaves5 furthermore, to

provide improved means for securing the removable leaves in theiroperative position and for supporting the extremities of the main orbody portions thereof, and, furthermore, to provide a plurality ofhinged leaves which may be usedor not, according to the desired amountofextension of the table.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in thefollowing description, and the novel features thereof will beparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a table constructedin accordance with my invention, the same being spread and showing oneof the removable leaves in position and one or more of said leavesfolded and arranged in the receptacle provided therefor. Fig. 2 isatransverse'sectionjof the table to-show' the means for securing theremovable leaves in place and supporting the extremities of the main orbody portions thereof. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the tableextended. Fig. 4 is a longitudinalsection of the same. Fig. 5 is adetail view of one of the removable leaves inverted, one of the terminalsections thereof being shown in its folded position. Fig. 6 is aperspective view of the table folded. Fig. 7 is an edge View of one ofthe joints between the sections of the removable leaves.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corparts in all the figures ofthe drawings.

The main frame of the table comprises end bars 1, connected by side bars2 and provided With supporting-legs 3, and connecting the side bars withits upper surface flush with the upper edges thereof is a transverse bar4, extended at its extremities beyond the outer surfaces of the sidebars and carrying guides or keepers 5. The main leaves or table-topsections 6 are provided with sliding bars 7, fitted at their innerextremities in said guides or keepers 5 and resting at intermediatepoints upon the extremities of supportingstrips 8, which are secured tothe main frame of the table with their upper surfaces flush with theupper edges of the side bars 2. The slides 7 are longitudinally grooved,as shown at 9, in their inner sides for the reception of guide-studs 10,projecting laterally from the ends of the frame. The length of thesegrooves is such as to allow the inner edges of the main leaves orsections of the table-top to come in contact at the transverse center of"the frame and limit the outward movement of said main leaves orsections when the inner edges thereof are approximately-in the plane ofthe inner surfaces of the end bars of the frame.

The main leaves or sections of the table-top are provided with lateralhinged drop-leaves or extensions 11, adapted to be arranged in the planeof the main leaves or sections, as shown in Fig. 1, or occupy verticalpositions, as shown in Fig. 6, and in order to support said drop-leavesin their horizontal positions I employ lateral supportingslides 12,consisting of plates or boards arranged parallel with the side bars ofthe frame and slide-arms 13, mounted in seats or guides 14. in said sidebars, and registering seats or guides 15, formed in a skeleton bar 16,which extends between the centers of the end bars of the frame upon thelongitudinal center of the structure. Said skeleton bar comprises upperand lower parallel strips 16 and 16 held at the desired interval byinterposed spacing-blocks 16. Said spacing-blocks are arranged atintervals to form with the upper and lower strips the guides or keepers15, in which the extremities of the slide-arms 13 operate. Thesupportingslides may be arranged close to the planes of the slides 7 forthe main leaves or sections or may be extended to support thedrop-leaves 11, as shown in Fig. 1.

In addition to the above-described construction I employ removableleaves 17, having intermediatc sections or body portions 18 andterminateonneeted extensions or folding sections 19, the length of theintermediate section being less than the interval between the innersurfaces of the slides 7, whereby when the extensions of aremovable-leaf are folded upon the intermediate section the leaf may bearranged upon the frame of the table below the plane of the main leavesor sections 6 to allow said leaves or sections 6 to be closed thereover.This arrangement of the removable leaves is shown clearly in Fig. 1. Theconnection between the extensions or folding sections of the removableleaves and the intermediate sections of those leaves is secured by meansof hinge-plates 20, pivoted at their extremities, respectively, to theside edges of the connected sections of a leaf, as at 21, eachhinge-plate beingprovided at an intermediate point with a transverseslot 22, in which 0perates a limiting-pin 23, carried by the extensionor folding section. The function of this limiting-pin and slot is toallow a limited swinging movement of the extension or folding sectionindependently of the hinge-plates, in order that the folding sectionmaybe swung out of the plane of the intermediate section preparatory tofolding it upon the intermediate section. This preparatory arrangementof the folding section is indicated in Fig. 7, from which it will beseen that while allowing the folded sections to be arranged parallel andin contact with the intermediate sections the joint between thecontiguous ends of said sections when in their operative positions isclosed, and therefore does not detract fromthe efficiency and appearanceof the table.

\Vhen in operative position a removable leaf is supported by the upperedges of the main slides 7 and the lateral slides 12, andis securedagainst displacement by means of hooks 24 on the table-engaging keepers25 on the under surfaces of the leaves. In the con-t structionillustrated in the drawings said keepers are arranged near the outerextremities of the folding sections 19, and the hooks are pivoted to theinner surfaces of the boards or plates forming the main portions of thelateral slides.

From the above description it will be seen that inasmuch as theintermediate sections of the removable leaves are made shorter than theintervals between the main slides 7 there is a tendency upon the part ofsaid intermediate sections to fall slightly below the plane of the mainleaves or sections of the tabletop, and, therefore, it is desirable toprovide means for supporting said intermediate sections independently ofthe folding sections, and the means which I have illustrated in thedrawings consist of supporting-arms 26 hinged to'the under surface ofthe intermediate section of each removable leaf near the extremities ofsaid section and provided at their free ends with notches 27 to engageheaded studs 28 on the side bars of the frame.

These supporting-arms are provided with finger-holds 29, whereby theymaybe pushed upward from below to facilitate the removal of aleaf whenit is desired to reduce the length of the table. These supporting-armsare adapted to fold parallel with the plane of the intermediate sectionof a leaf when said leaf is arranged for storing within the frame of thetable.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described my invention, what- I claim is-' p 1. In a table, thecombination of a frame provided with supporting legs, main leaves ortable-top sections supported by said frame, drop leaves connected to thelateral edges of said main leaves or sections, lateral slides mountedupon the frame and having boards or plates arranged with their upperedges flush with the lower surfaces of said main leaves or sections, andremovable leaves adapted to be arranged between the inner edges of themain leaves or sections and provided with terminal extensions or foldingsections, said extensions or folding sections of the removable leavesand the drop leaves carried by the main leaves or sections being adaptedto be supported by said lateral slides, substantially as specified.

2. In an extension table, the combination with a main frame havingsupporting legs,of main leaves or sections, main slides mounted upon theframe and supporting said main leaves or sections, said slides havinglimited outward movement, fixed guides or keepers being arranged at thesides of the frame to receive the inner extremities of the main slides,and supporting bars being arranged near the ends of the frame to supportsaid slides at intermediate points, drop leaves carried by the mainleaves or sections, removable leaves adapted to be arranged between theinner edges of the main leaves or sections and provided with terminalfolding sections, and lateral slides mounted upon the frame and havingboards or plates arranged with their upper edges flush with the lowersur faces of the main leaves or sections and adapted to support the dropleaves and folding sections of the removable leaves, said lateral slideshaving arms fitted in keepers in the frame, substantially as specified.

3. In an extension table, the combination with a frame and supportinglegs, and main leaves having slides mounted upon the frame,

of a removable leaf having an intermediate section of less length thanthe interval between the supports provided for said leaf whereby it isadapted to fit therebetween, and folding sections connected to theextremities of the intermediate section, and connections between theextremities of the intermediate and folding sections consisting ofhinge-plates pivotally connected at their extremities to the side edgesof said sections and provided with transverse slots for the reception oflimiting pins carried by one of the sections at each joint,substantially as specified.

4. In an extension table, the combination with a frame and supportinglegs, and main leaves or sections having slides mounted upon the frame,of lateral slides mounted upon the frame and adapted to be arranged atintervals from the sides thereof, removable leaves adapted to bearranged between the inner edges of the main leaves or sections, eachremovable leaf having an intermediate section and connected foldingsections, the folding sections being adapted to rest upon the saidlateral slides for support, and hooks carried by the lateral slides forengaging the removable leaves, substantially as specified.

5. In an extension table, the combination with a frame and supportinglegs, and main leaves or'sections having slides mounted upon tween saidpoints of support, adjustable outward movement, drop leaves connected tothe lateral edges of the main leaves or sections, lateral slides mountedupon the frame and having boards or plates adapted to be adjusted towardand from the frame, the length of said boards or plates being in excessof the interval between the inner edges of the main leaves or sectionswhen the latter are arranged at the limit of their outward extension,and removable leaves adapted to be arranged between the inner edges ofthe main leaves or sections and adapted to be supported by the upperedges of said lateral slides, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

RUDOLPH H. RIPKING.

Witnesses:

ANDY ERLE, WILLIAM ERLE.

